Detroit might be America's motor city and home to all three of its major automakers – General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler – but here in Australia, there's a cross-border divide between the country's motoring hubs.
South Australia, the state I grew up in, is the home of Holden. The company was founded here as a saddle-maker before turning its focus to cars, producing most of its vehicles in the northern suburb of Elizabeth. Chrysler also operated a factory in the southern suburb of Tonsley, which was later taken over by Mitsubishi. In more recent years, the track-only Brabham BT62 hypercar was also produced in Adelaide.
Across the border in Victoria, the state I was born in, is where Ford has its local roots in the city of Geelong. The factory there assembled Model Ts as far back as 1925, but it's the locally-developed Falcon sedans, coupés, and utes which people will know Ford's Aussie arm for. Elsewhere in Victoria, Toyota produced cars such as the Camry in the outer-Melbourne suburb of Altona.
While South Australia and Victoria have a longstanding rivalry in every sense – everything from sport to food is a divisive topic – one of the clearest rivalries between the two is when it comes to cars.
The Holden and Ford rivalry has mostly been driven by the V8 Supercars touring car racing series, but there's no denying that there's still a certain patriotism in parts of SA and Victoria for their respective automakers. It even carries on today despite the production of sedans either built and/or developed here having ceased in the 2010s. Adelaide is forever the home of Holden; Geelong will always be Ford country.
But while the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon were once top-sellers and heroes of the world-class Australian automotive industry, Holden's factory in Elizabeth has now become an exotic mushroom farm. Over the border, Ford still does development work on global vehicles such as the Ranger – plus, the F-150 is locally converted to right-hand drive there – but the Geelong plant sits empty.
The Ford brand, of course, is still alive and well, and the Ranger is currently the country's best-selling new vehicle. The Holden brand is dead, with GM now focusing on importing models from America such as the Chevrolet Corvette and Silverado.
The latter is the vehicle in question here. I was passing through Geelong for some family business, and the Silverado 1500 LTZ happened to be my chariot that day. On one hand, this brutish V8 muscle truck seemed like the perfect vehicle for traversing country Victoria and its long, wide, fast, straight roads. On the other, I'd be taking it behind enemy lines. Surely the rivalry doesn't run so deep that a Chevrolet would get awkward looks here these days, right?
Setting off from Melbourne, I was glad that Australian-delivered Silverado models are equipped with the Z71 off-road package as standard. At this stage, it wasn't for the louder dual exhaust system – which does sound menacing in Sport mode – but rather the chunky tyres, Autotrac four-wheel drive system, and additional underbody protection.
The typical Victorian rain was absolutely torrential as I drove down the M1, yet the Silverado couldn't have felt more stable and surefooted – and that was before I realised it was still in 2H.
Fortunately, the clouds parted once I'd reached Geelong, although it was actually at this point the stress kicked up a notch. As I turned off the Princes Highway to make my way towards the waterfront, my nerves were on edge as Brougham Street revealed to me a tiny underpass below the train station. Thanks for that, Waze.
Firmly imprinted in my mind was a particular clause on the insurance form I'd just filled out: do not enter carparks or tunnels with a height restriction of 2.4 metres or less. Mercifully, the clearance was listed at 2.7 metres, although with the sunroof cover pulled back, it still looked and felt incredibly tight – and that's not to mention to the Silverado's 2086mm width. The sigh of relief I let out on the other side could be heard by all of the city's 289,272 residents.
As the Silverado burbled its way through this historic city – complete with a 19th century carousel and art deco boardwalk on the shore – the narrow streets and low clearances weren't the cause of the most awkwardness, though. Ford Falcon drivers were giving me side-eyes; those steering a Territory would glare from their higher height. No one with the Blue Oval on the nose of their car would let me out of side turnings. Yep, the rivalry is still well and truly alive.
Mind you, my driving didn't exactly help. When piloting a vehicle this large, you do sometimes have to assert yourself on the road, and it doesn't go down well with the drivers of more ordinary cars. Surprisingly, I did run into an identically-specified Silverado in the size above when I stopped for lunch – good to know I wasn't alone in my bow-tied bravado – but I still figured it best to leave the people of Geelong in peace after a short pit stop.
As I headed on into the countryside along the Midland Highway, the Silverado and I both felt more relaxed. The V8 idled casually in tenth gear, the roads were wide, there were no underpasses, and there were no more angry Ford drivers. Well, okay, there was one who tailgated me mercilessly for a few miles, but that's still better than it could've been.
Can you really call this regular Silverado a 'muscle truck'?
Perhaps it's liberal usage of the term 'American muscle', but I think the Silverado qualifies. It might not feature the same LT2 engine seen in the Corvette or Camaro, but this EcoTec3 engine is still a 6.2-litre unit with power equivalent to over 420 American stallions rearing to gallop.
While there's no official acceleration time, although estimates suggest it'll get from 0-100km/h in just shy of seven seconds, it's more about how the Silverado feels in a tacit sense which makes it worthy of the definition.
Where the Ford F-150 uses a turbocharged V6 and the Ram 1500 is a mild hybrid, the Silverado's engine is an old-school atmo V8, and it certainly rumbles and growls like it. The feeling is pure muscle. The sound is pure muscle. The fact it's not quite as quick as the others? Ironically, that's very V8 muscle of it as well.
Factor in its overall sportier vibe than its competitors – from the firmer suspension and black-badge styling to the fact it even has a set of paddle shifters – and I'd say it's the most engaging drive of the trio, not to mention the best sounding by far.
2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium Z71
Price (MSRP): A$130,500
Engine: 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 petrol
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Drivetrain: Full-time 4WD
Power: 313kW // 426PS
Torque: 624Nm // 460lb-ft
Weight: 2552kg (kerb)
Economy: 13.0L/100km (as tested)
